Dick and Annette Ragatz are a remarkable couple. Together for seven decades, their story is filled with true romance, travel adventures, and a passion for collecting artwork. They have wandered the globe extensively, soaking up the culture and history of numerous faraway places, all the while amassing an extraordinary art and artifacts collection that could rival that of any notable museum.
Their art assemblage is vast and includes everything from African tribal shields to old Mexican masks to Spanish water jugs. The collection also features international pottery, rugs, intricate wood carvings, and Oriental porcelain. Each piece is one of a kind and quite old, with the oldest being a Han Dynasty vase that dates back more than 2,000 years.
This collection is such a significant part of the couple’s lives that they chose to remodel their recently purchased home in Eugene to display their many artifacts. It should be noted that this is the second time they’ve remodeled a house in Eugene to showcase their collection — the first one being more than 25 years ago.
Dick, a former professor of urban and regional planning at the University of Oregon and Cornell University, is the owner of a successful consulting and market research firm in the resort real estate industry. His business involved lots of travel, which allowed him and his wife to visit numerous countries throughout the years and collect artwork. Annette, who did research for her husband’s firm, holds a master’s degree in counseling from UO and has experience as an elementary school teacher. “We always loved traveling together and meeting new people,” she says. Dick agrees. “The art pieces that we acquired — it’s not just about the artifact, it’s about the people and places that the art came from,” he says.
As longtime Eugeneans, the couple were thrilled when they came across their current residence and knew immediately it would be perfect for exhibiting their massive array of art. The cumulation of 500 pieces from 50 different countries is “very eclectic,” according to the couple. “Our art collection is known for its uniqueness, not its wealth,” Dick says.
The remodeling project took 10 months and began shortly after the couple purchased the home in 2023. Designer and project manager Marilyn Augusta (who also oversaw the Ragatzes’ first home remodel) says her primary objective during the project was to “create a canvas for all their artwork, because their artwork is the focus of this home.”
That is undeniable. The one-story, 2,950-square-foot residence features 10 rooms, including a mask room (featuring 40 Mexican masks from the early 1900s) and a piano room for Annette. Every niche is graced by incredible treasures, and nothing is enclosed in a case. “They never wanted their art objects to be behind glass,” Augusta says. “They really wanted to live with their art, not hide it.”
The renovation was quite extensive and involved “gutting everything down to the studs,” she says. Everything was replaced — new flooring, new cabinets, and new surfaces. Walls and cabinets were painted white to better showcase the art, and many of the artifacts are enhanced with LED lighting, which Augusta calls “the jewelry of the house.” Even the kitchen was specially designed to display various pottery pieces.
“The art drove the aesthetics of this house,” Augusta says. Dick and Annette “share a love of art and design, and they are so connected to the visual appeal of things.” They are also “so committed to Eugene,” she adds. “They have traveled extensively, and they could have lived anywhere, but Eugene is the place they chose to spend their lives together.”
Speaking of togetherness, Dick and Annette’s romantic journey is one for the ages. Both from Napa, California, they met while attending the same class in high school. “I was sitting in front of Annette,” Dick recalls. “And when I turned around, she was so pretty, I liked her smile and her eyes. That’s when I fell in love with her. She was my first date.”
Last Thanksgiving marks the 70th anniversary of that first date, he notes. “We were from completely different backgrounds. She was a city girl and I was from the country. I grew up on a farm.”
“We have very different personalities,” Annette adds, “but we always have fun together.”
Although Annette’s parents weren’t thrilled that she was romantically involved at such a young age, the couple continued to date throughout high school and college. They married in 1961 — their 65th wedding anniversary is in January — and went on to have two children, Todd and Tracy, both of whom are grown and living in Eugene.
During their early married years, the couple resided in a few different places, including California and New York, before settling in Eugene in 1969.
What’s the secret to their long, happy marriage? “We always had similar values,” Annette says. “There were a lot of years that were difficult. He was working and traveling, and I was home with the kids, but we wanted it to work.”
“It’s about having respect for one another,” Dick adds, “and laughing at their jokes.”
When asked if they planned to add to their art collection, Annette says, “We’ve pretty much stopped buying” — to which Dick responds with a smile, “We ran out of walls.”
